Tools for Round-the-clock Staffing

Whenasking employees to burn the midnight oil, you’ll get better results if you:

Openthe lines of communication. Schedule meetings close to shift changes and use bulletinboards and e-mail to keep your people connected. Don’t let workers on the overnightshift begin to think they’re second-class citizens.

Safetyconsiderations come first, but whenever possible, encourage your workers to nap. A short,20-minute nap midway through a shift can have a significant restorative effect that willkeep employees alert through the morning hours.

Warnemployees about the dangers of caffeine abuse. Coffee has a half-life of seven hours andthe caffeine can stay in your system a full 24 hours. Tell your employees that afterroughly two cups, they’re getting no additional boost, just jagged nerves and fitfulsleep when they finally do get home.